Cargo handling apparatus



July 2. 1968 R. w. DAVIDSON CARGO. HANDLING APPARATUS Original FiledJuly 19, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q a 4 i m 1 1 rllfi. m a m 8w #5 a, 99 byR, 8 llihiikii- -1 --1-1-1-115 ?1- -1- :Lv .8 -EQ fig W. j- J m TIA. n w1 rd Q m mWA um HM MW fi M- avg Q w v a mm o p a. %w NM Na & v \QK\\\\\\\\\\\\\NN\\\N\\\\\N\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\\N -\\\\E ROBERT W.DAVIDSON AT ORNEY.

July 2. 1968 R. w. DAVIDSON 3,390,752

CARGO HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed July 19, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2mvzw'ron ROBERT w. DAVIDSON ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Claims. (Cl. 193-35) This application relates tocargo handling apparatus and more particularly to mechanism useful inthe proper handling of cargo such as loaded pallets or containerizedunits for transportation in various types of carriers, especiallyairplanes.

The present invention is a division of my copending application Ser. No.296,177, filed July 19, 1963, for Cargo Handling Apparatus, to whichreference is made for full description and disclosure of the apparatuswith which the guiding and restraining mechanism disclosed in thisapplication forms a part. It is to be understood, however, that thenovel mechanism disclosed herein can find other uses with other suitabletypes of cargo handling apparatus.

It is an object of the invention to provide novel guide means forpreventing unwanted sidewise movement of palletized cargo in a carrierwhile being moved into position for transportation.

The invention further consists in the provision of novel restrainingmechanism which cooperate with load support mechanism in such mannerthat loaded pallets or the like of varying sizes supported on suchmechanism can be completely restrained against unwanted lateral orsidewise displacement while being transported in a carrier equipped withsuch transporting mechanism.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in the novel features pointed out and described morein detail hereinafter, and set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view disclosing the invention operatively installedin cargo handling system;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a preferred form of the invention; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 in FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 discloses a portion of a carrier, inthis case an airplane 2. The airplane is provided with a plurality ofelongated tracks designated generally 10, which preferably aredetachably secured to the floor thereof. These tracks are provided withlongitudinally spaced low friction conveyor rollers 11. Tracks extendlongitudinally along the floor of airplane 2 and their length isgoverned by the amount of space allocated for handling cargo.

Pallets loaded with cargo or containerized units may vary in width aswell as length. Therefore, the present invention makes it possible toadapt the cargo handling system shown in FIGURE 1 in such manner thatpallets of any selected width will be guided to their predeterminedtransportation position and therein secured to travel properly withoutlateral or sidewise displacement.

Tracks 10 comprise a plurality of inner trays 12, 310 and outer trays14. Although only one inner tray 310 is shown for purposes ofillustration, it is to be understood that more can be used if desired,depending upon the width of pallets to be handled by a given system.Trays 12, 14 and 310 can be permanently attached to the floor structureof an airplane or other vehicle. As shown in FIGURE 1, trays 12 and 14are detachably secured to seat rails 18 extending along the. aircraftseat rails indicated in broken lines. Any suitable number of inner trays12 and 310 can be provided depending upon the width of the airplane.Trays 14 are similarly installed in the 3,300,752 Patented July 2, 1968aircraft, as are T-shaped guide members 188 of the type and constructiondisclosed in my copending divisional application Ser. No. 538,257, filedMar. 29, 1966. The installation shown in FIGURE 1, which has twolaterally spaced tracks 10 composed of one or more trays 14, is arrangedto handle the widest pallet. This is indicated as position A. Assumethat this pallet for position A is inches in width.

Now assume that it is desired to convert system S to one capable ofhandling pallets, say 108 inches Wide. This can be done by usingposition B, in which case the inner track 10 is composed of one or moretrays 310, which trays are essentially the same in construction as atypical tray 12. These trays 310 now become guide trays as well asconveying and locking or holddown trays. The outer or guide tray ortrays 14 at position A are not used. It should be apparent that innertray 310 can be substituted in any one or group of inner tray positionsas shown in FIGURE 1 thus providing for a multiplicity of differentwidth pallets or cargo units.

T-ray 310 is detachably secured to its respective seat rail 18 bylocking fittings 36 mounted in cross members 30 thereof such asdescribed and shown in my copending application Ser. No. 296,177. Itwill be appreciated that although only one bay is shown in FIGURE 1, theinstallation of tracks 10 comprising trays 12, 14 and 310 envisions anadditional bay or all cargo space available in a carrier. The number oftrays forming each track 10 can vary in the same manner as describedhereinabove depending upon the width of the carrier and the length ofthe cargo carrying area.

In tray 310, shown in FIGURE 1, one locking unit 25 of the constructiondisclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 296,177, is mounted atthe extreme left end thereof. This locking unit forms one of a series oftransversely aligned locking units 25 detachably mounted in trays 12.Additional locking units 25 can be used, depending upon the length ofthe tray, and positioning requirements necessary to secure a givenpallet 8 against movement. In addition to one locking unit 25, tray 310also is provided with three auxiliary guide units 312 which are soconstructed that, as in the case of the locking dogs of a locking unit25, their guide arms 340 when in inoperative positions are disposedbeneath the operative supporting level of rollers 11 of trays 12, 14 and310, thereby enabling loaded pallets 8 to be moved to predeterminedtravel positions in a carrier without interfer ence.

Each guide unit 312 is so constructed that it, like a locking unit 25,can be detachably supported in a tray 310, as in a tray 12. It ispreferred to provide additional securing means for tray 310 in order toinsure proper lateral support for a pallet bearing against guide arms3407 Referring to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that one channel portion 250of a tray 3110 is provided with a plurality of hold down arms orbrackets 314 preferably attached thereto by pins 316 at locationspreferably corresponding to the positions of cross members 30. At itsfree end each bracket 314 supports an adjustable threaded headed tensionfitting 318 adapted to engage with the undersides of opposed abutmentsformed in plates 322 suitably attached to the aircraft. In theinstallation of each tray 310 which constitute a track 10, fittings 318are inserted into circular openings 324 of plates 322. The tray is thenmoved longitudinally until the head of each fitting 318 is disposedbeneath the abutments in plates 322.

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate a preferred form of auxiliary guide unit 312which can be detachably mounted on studs 70 and holes 74 in channelportions 250 of each tray 310. The number of units 312 which are useddepends upon the size and weight of a load on a pallet, and its length.

Since all auxiliary units 312 are the same, only one need be describedin detail. Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, each unit 312 comprises a frame326 having side plates 327 joined by integral cross members 328 and 329.The latter is provided with two laterally spaced extensions 330 havingbores; which with axially aligned bores in side plates 327, slidablysupport short shafts 332. The outer ends of shafts 332 project outwardlybeyond side plates 327 in order to seat in holes 74 formed in channelportions 250 of trays 310. The inner ends of shafts 332 pass through thebores in extensions 330 and are provided with gripping pins 334 whichsecure shafts in assembled relationship in each unit 312 and enable amechanic, when installing or removing a guide unit 312, to press themtowards each other against the tension of springs 336 encircling shortshafts 332 between plates 327 and extensions 330 in order to retract thefree ends of shafts 332 either to withdraw them from holes 74 or allowsprings 336 to maintain them seated in holes 74 when a unit 312 isinstalled. The other ends, as viewed in FIG- URE 2, are provided withopenings 338 and guide surfaces (not shown), which engage with and aresupported on pins 70 in channel portions 250. The method of installingand removing a guide unit 312 is the same as that described in mycopending application Ser. No. 296,- 177 for locking unit 25.

Each auxiliary guide unit 312 is provided with a guide arm 340 pivotallymounted on shaft 342 supported in cross members 328 and 329. Arm 340 isprovided with a fiat guide face 344 which not only guides a pallet 8 butalso provides a lateral support against which a pallet positionedbetween guides 188 and guide units 312 can press. Arm 340 also is formedwith a latch nose 346 which coacts with a complementary locking groove348 formed in a latch lever 350 pivotally mounted on shaft 352 supportedby cross members 328, 329 and a cam surface 355 for coaction with latch350. A torsion spring 354 encircling shaft 352 and having one endbearing against the underside of one of side plates 327 and its otherend pressing against the underside of lever 350 braces lever 350 withlocking relationship with nose 346. This coaction maintains arm 346 inits guiding position as shown n FIGURE 3. Latch 350 is provided with anextension 356 formed to coact with the rearward cam surface 355 of arm340 such that arm 340 is securely stowed in inoperative position belowthe operative plane of the rollers against forces generated by thecarrier while in motion and against inadvertent restoration to uprightoperative position where it would impede the movement of a pallet orcontainer of a wider dimension than that for which the guide unit isintended.

I claim:

1. A restraining and guiding unit adapted to be mounted on a selectedinner tray of a cargo handling apparatus, which comprises: a framehaving sidewalls, a pivotally mounted guiding and restraining armmounted in said frame, and extending in parallel relationship with thesidewalls of said frame, a latch member formed on said arm, a pivotallymounted latch lever carried on said frame, said latch lever beingprovided with a locking portion, spring means normally biasing saidlatch lever into engagement with said locking member on said armwhereby, when said lock member and said portion of said locking leverare engaged, said arm is disposed in position to act as a side guide toprevent substantial parallel movement of a cargo unit bearing againstsaid arm, and means for detachably mounting said restraining and guidingunit on a selected inner tray.

2. The unit defined in claim 1, wherein said last named means compriseslidably mounted short shafts supported in a cross frame member forminga part of said frame, springs normally biasing said short shafts intooperative position, and operating means attached to said shafts forretracting said short shafts whereby the free ends thereof may bepositioned for engagement with support holes in said tray.

3. The unit defined in claim 1 including means for mounting said arm forpositioning in inoperative condition beneath the operative plane of saidframe.

4. The unit defined in claim 1 wherein said unit connects with cargohandling apparatus including elongated trays having rollers thereon, andmeans mounting said guiding and restraining arm for movement from aninoperative position below the plane of said rollers of said trays to anoperative position above said rollers.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 including means for holding said armin its operative position above said rollers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,225,942 12/1965 Fossenier 214-6ALBERT J. MAKAY, Primary Examiner.

1. A RESTRAINING AND GUIDING UNIT ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A SELECTEDINNER TRAY OF A CARGO HANDLING APPARATUS, WHICH COMPRISES: A FRAMEHAVING SIDEWALLS, A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED GUIDING AND RESTRAINING ARMMOUNTED IN SAID FRAME, AND EXTENDING IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP WITH THESIDEWALLS OF SAID FRAME, A LATCH MEMBER FORMED ON SAID ARM, A PIVOTALLYMOUNTED LATCH LEVER CARRIED ON SAID FRAME, SAID LATCH LEVER BEINGPROVIDED WITH A LOCKING PORTION, SPRING MEANS NORMALLY BIASING SAIDLATCH LEVER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LOCKING MEMBER ON SAID ARMWHEREBY, WHEN SAID LOCK MEMBER AND SAID PORTION OF SAID LOCKING LEVERARE ENGAGED, SAID ARM IS DISPOSED IN POSITION TO ACT AS A SIDE GUIDE TOPREVENT SUBSTANTIAL PARALLEL MOVEMENT OF A CARGO UNIT BEARING AGAINSTSAID ARM, AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY MOUNTING SAID RESTRAINING AND GUIDINGUNIT ON A SELECTED INNER TRAY.